Bulgaria’s two largest parties have accused President Rumen Radev of being a risk to Bulgaria’s future in the European Union.
They cited ongoing political attacks on the government, his influence in society and the pro-Russian line the country has taken during his administration.
The governing We Continue the Change party said that Radev’s „anti-European behavior” in society was a major motive behind their decision to ally with GERB, the party of long-serving Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
“If there was no risk of (Rumen) Radev taking us away from Europe, we would not have put together a cabinet with GERB”, Lena Borislavova, the leading political strategist of We Continue the Change, said.
“Democracy cannot be defended with hypocrisy, nor can statehood be preserved with division and with the constantly raised fist” of Radev, she said.
In May, GERB and We Continue the Change formed a coalition government with the aim of bringing Bulgaria into the Eurozone, Schengen, offering support to Ukraine, reforming the administration, and ridding the security services of Russian influence.
Under a succession of caretaker governments, Radev has been responsible for appointing the heads of intelligence service during his two years in office. He opposed military aid to Ukraine and has repeatedly suggested that Kyiv shares equal blame with Russia for the war.
The two governing parties and Radev most recently clashed over a proposal to change the Bulgarian national holiday.
The current national holiday, on 3 March, celebrates the signing of the San Stefano Peace Treaty between the Russian and Ottoman Empires after the two-year war for the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1877-1878. The war was successful for Russia, but the peace treaty never came into force, and Bulgaria was divided into several parts.
Many Bulgarians see this national holiday as a symbol of Russian interests in Bulgaria. The governing coalition has proposed the Day of Slavic Script (May 24) as the new national holiday. May 24 celebrates the Slavic alphabet which was invented 1,200 years ago.
On Saturday, Radev defended keeping March 3 as the main national holiday.
